Rotary rake



-May 3, 1927.

William L,

vBY ,C

- Tonner Patented May 3, 1927.

WILLIAMLINGOLN WIRE, or RIVERSIDE, Crimson-nia., assitance E EiF'frY-ONE iEit CENT fr0 HERBERT RICHMOND, or" nrvna'srijn, CALIEOENA.

ROTARY RAKE;

Application tiled April 13, 1925. Serial No.

This invention relates to a rotary rake adapted for use on lawns, especially for eradi eating lcrmuda grass and similar pests.

The general object of my invention is to provide a device, preferably power driven, which, when moved longitudinally and transvcrsz-xly over. the lawn, will tear ont practically all of the Bermuda grass runners, cnt them into short lengths, and leave them on top of the lawn where they may be easily collected and burned, or otherwise disposed of.

One embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying dra-wings, in which-e- Figure l1 is a perspective view thereof.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of'Figure 3. i i

Figure 3 is a transverse section takenon the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure l is a detail view of one of the raking andcutting teeth, illustrating also the manner of mounting the same.

Figure 5 is a detail View taken at right angles to Figure 4.

Referring in d etail to the drawings, the invention comprises a main frame 10. have ing depending brackets 11 secured to its forward end, and supported `by a ground roller 12. At the rear end, a second roller 13 is mounted in arms let, which are pivotally connected, as at 15, to the frame 10, and are each provided, intermediate their ends, with a transversely disposed slot 16 which receives a screwor other fastening device 17, by means of which the elevation of therear end of the frame may be adjusted. Each of the rollers 12 and 13 mayconveniently be made of wood with a central shaft 18, and is preferably covered with sheet metal, as indicated at 18, to prevent mud or wet grass from sticking to the roller.

In the form shown in the drawings, the machine is adapted to be manually propelled over the surface ot the ground, and for this purpose upwardly ind rearwardly extending rails 19 are secured to the rear end of the frame, and provided with suit able braces 20, and are connected at their upper ends by a handle 21.

Secured to the sides of the frame 1() between the front and rear rollers are depending arms 22. in which a transverse shaft 23 is journaled. Disks 24 are secured to the sass-5.

shaft 23 near the ends thereof, and secured to these disks is a flat, spiral strip 25, which is provided with a seriesol' equally spaced polygonal holes 26 adapted to receive the Shanks 27 of the raking and cutting teethv be placed a washer 32. VThey rear face of the tootl 2S is curved, as shown at 33, and f its front side is in the shape of a sharpened blade 3l, which has a lateral trend 'so that as the shaft 2?) rotates rapidly the material torn up by the teeth will be thrown therefroi'n laterally of the machine.

Tlieshaft 23 is provided atone end with a driving pulley 35, which is connected by a `belt 5:36 to a. pulley 37 secured to the main shaft 38 ofa'motor 39mounted onthe-frame 10. Any type of motor may be usedrfr. that shown `in the drawings being an electric motor, which may be connected by wires to the house current.

A deflector plate 40 is secured to the frame 10 and extends over the revolving teeth 28, so that as the detached material is thrown upwardly and laterally against the delector. the latter will aid `in casting the saine tol ward the side of the machine. The motor 39 is preferably protected by a housing 41, which rests on the frame 10, and has a slot 42 to receive the motor shaft 38.

In the operation of the machine, the teeth 28 are rapidly revolved with the shaft 23,

and are so disposed that in the lower partV oftheir orbit they penetrate the ground to a depth of one-half te one inch. By adjusting the roller 13, the rear end of the frame may be raised or lowered, thereby varying the depth to which the teeth penetrate the ground, the correct depth depending somewhat upon the character of the soil. A machine which is large enough for use in cutting lawns may be easily propelled man? ually. The teeth are revolved quite rapidly, and their engagement with the ground will assist in moving the machine forwardly. The teeth as theypenetrate the ground will tear out the Bermuda grass runners, and cut the same into comparatively short lengths, and the rapid revolution of the teeth will cause the fragments of grass to be cast olf by Centrifugal force, the lateral trend et the blades 34 and the laterally inclined deliector plate 40 cooperating to east them to one side of the niaehine. Usually, it will be necessary to rnn the machine over each part of the lawn in two directions in order to coinpletely eradicate the runners. The latter inay subsequently he raked up hy a. light hand rake. It will usually he convenient for one man to operate the machine, while another man rakes up and wheels away the trash. The passage ot the machine over the lawn does not n'iaterially injure the blue grass and clover, and the cuts or scars lett in the ground are just enough so that tertilizer or grass seed may he sown, and will not be washed 01T when the lawn is watered. It the surface ot the lawn is a little uneven, the teeth, when passing over the hi gli places, will penetrate deeper into the ground, and will have a tendency to level it. The teeth are easily attached to the spiral strip 25 or removed therefrom, and it is consequently very easy to replace theni when they hecoine worn or broken.

lhile l have shown and deserilfed in considerahle detail one specilie enihodinxent ot the invention, it is obvious that various modifications may he niade in the size and shape and relative arrangement ot the rarions elements thereot without departing troni the salient features oit the invention, and it is, therefore, iny desire to include all such modifications; within the Scope ot the appended claims.

that is elainied is:

l. In a lawn ralf-e, the conihination ol' a. ranie mounted so as to be propelled. over the ground, a transverse shaft rotatably mounted in the trame, means tor drivingA Said Shaft, a series ot radially projecting teeth supported hy said aha't't and adapted to penetrate the `ground in the lower part ot their orhit. the lront portion ot' each tooth heing in the terni ol a velnirpmrefl hlfvle with a lateral trend, and al delleetor secured to the 'trame and eoop \iatin@l with the teeth to cast the detached material toward one side.

2. In a lawn ral-1e, the eonihiuatiou ot a :traine nioanted so as to loe propelled over the ground, a transverse Shaft rotatahly nounted in the trarne, nieane tor dririnn' said allatt, a series ot radially projecting teeth Supported hy said sha'tt and adapted to penetrate the ground in the lower part ot their orbit, and a de'llcetor plate inouut-ed in the lower part oi the traine and overhang'- ing the teeth, Said detleetor plate ha ring al: inclination laterally o't the trame, so as to deflect toward one eide the material thrown upward .troni the teeth.

ln testinmny, that l elaiin the :t'oregoing as my own, l have hereto alixed .my signal ture.

WlLL'LfY lil LlhlCOLN lVlliE. 

